Apparatus designed for the successive exhibition of dioramas



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1937 P. A. J. CARRE ET AL APPARATUSDESIGNED FOR THE SUCCESSIVE EXHIBITION OFDIORAMAS I Dec. 27, 1938.

Dec. 27,- 1938. P. A. J. CARRE ET AL APPARATUS DESIGNED FOR THESUCCESSIVE EXHIBITION OF DIORAMAS Filed June 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2/NVEN TOH 5 Phz'Zz' w Alan's am care BI w. 510

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Patented Dec. 27, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS DESIGNED FOR THE SUCCES-SIVE. EXHIBITION OF DIORAMAS Philippe Alexis Jean Carr and Jacques LouisAlexis Maurice Carr, Paris, France Application June 2, 1937, Serial No;146,046

v In France June 18, 1936 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for successivelyexhibiting a series of dioramas by an arrangement which is continuousand automatic in its operation so as to bring another 5 diorama intoposition to be viewed after a preceding one shall have been exhibited;

A further object is to provide dioramas which are pliable and foldable.

Again, it is an object to provide an exhibiting apparatus having astorage space for the folded dioramas, an exhibiting chamber having anopening, and means for bringing the dioramas from the storage space intothe exhibiting chamber, means to unfold the dioramas for exhibitionpurposes and thereafter re-fold them and return them to the storagespace.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation (parts being in section) of the apparatusaccording to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of same;

Fig. 3 shows the back side of the apparatus the wall of which has beenremoved; 7

Fig. 4 is a detail view, similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modificationof the invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a portio of the apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section taken just above the planecontaining the elements l4.

According to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus is made of a box I, thefront wall 2 of which is provided with an opening 3. This box has twohorizontal partitions 5 dividing same into three compartments 6,1. 8.The compartment 1 is 35 used as a storage space for the folded dioramas9a 9b, 9f, and'the compartment 8 as an exhibition chamber containing anunfolded diorama l0.

The dioramas are made of a front frame II and a back plate l2 connectedby the means of the folding (bellows-like) part I3. To the said frame II and plate I 2 are fixed one or several intermediary planes I211.representing the scenery, the said planes being parallel or not to theend planes, and are supported by being fastened to the articulated orfolding part l3. The intermediate planes are adapted to assume thedesired positions when the diorama is unfolded by opening the plate l2and the frame II, and to be folded again when the plate l2 and the frameI arebrought near one another.

On the frame near the vertical edges, are fixed two hooks l4 directedtowards the back face.

On the Vertical side walls of the box are mounted the pairs of sprocketsl5, l6; ll, l8, l9 and 20 on which run two chains 2| driven by the saidsprockets. The chains-are operated by any suitable known means whichwill drive a pair or pairs of the sprockets. Each chain 2| has a finger22 directed towards the inside of the box and designed to engage thehooks l4 borne by the frame H of the diorama 9a, so as to drive sametogether with the chains 2|. The back plate l2 of the dioramas has onits sides notches 23. Flat springs 24, fixed on the box are provided attheir free end with a verticalrod coming into cooperation with the saidnotches 23 when the diorama is in the exhibition chamber 8, the rods 25resting then against the fore face of the back plate I2 and thuspreventing this last plane from moving forward. On the box are alsofixed the spring blades 26 the free end of each of which is bent so asto present a vertical supporting surface. Other spring blades 21 arefurthermore fixed on the front wall 2 of the box. Under the lower faceof the horizontal partition 5 is arranged an elastic hook 28. 'curtain29, provided with a spring, not represented in the drawings, which tendsto roll it up, is mounted above the opening 3 of the wall 2 of the box,the said curtain when unrolled concealing the said opening. The bar v3t]of the curtain is connected at its ends to hooks 3| sliding in theguideways 32 on the side walls of the box I. Fingers 33, borne by thechains 2|, come into contact with the said hooks in order to unroll thecurtain 29 and thus to conceal the opening 3. On the other hand, thehooks are heldin the lowest position to whichthey have been brought bythe fingers 33 by means of'hooks 34 hinged at a point 34a and providedwith a tail member 35 on which the fingers 33 press to disengage thehooks 34 and 3|. The hooks 34 are moved to their'original position bythe action of the spring blades 36.

The horizontal partition 4 is provided in the Vicinity of the frontwallof the box with a surface 3! made of an elastic material, spongy rubberfor instance, covered or not with a felt strip 38 making a slightprojection 39 above the level of the upper face of the partition 4.

The operation is as follows: The two chains 2|, each of them beingdriven by one or several sprockets on which they are running, receive acontinuous motion and, in the position shown in Fig. 1, the fingers 22,fixed to the chains 2|; are on the vertical part of the chain betweenthe pinions I5 and I6, and above the level of the hook 14 of the diorama9a contained in the beginning of its horizontal motion, the framev II ofthe diorama opens the springs 24, which held the back plate of thediorama I55, whichwas in position. The back plate I2 of this lastdiorama is thus freed from springsii i as the rods 25 no longer are heldagainst it and it movesfforward, pushed by the frame of the followingdiorama 9a. When the frame II of the diorama to has gone beyond thesprings 24, these return to position and when the back plate of thesarne diorama contacts the springs these last engage the notches 23 ofthe plate and hold it by means of the rods 23. During the continuationof their movement, the chains 2I with their fingers 22 still inengagement in the hooks I4 drive forward the frame I I of the diorama3a, and since the back plate of the sameis retained by the rods 23, thediorama is thus opened. Shortly before the fingers 22 of the chains 2!reach the pinions II, the back plate of the dioramalt passes beyond thefore edge of the horizontal partition 5, and this diorama falls into thelower storage space. At the same time, the frame II of the diorama 9apasses the spring blades '23 which close again behind it and remain closed in order to prevent the diorama from folding backward. When thefingers 22 of the chains 2i have reached the pinion I I, the chains runin another direction, disengage the fingers from the hooks I4 andcontinue their way. While falling into the storage chamber or spacathediorama III contacts the springs 27, which are very weak. These springscause the upper part of the diorama to swing slightly towards therearmost part of the storage space. Owing to the sprockets IS, thechains changing their direction act through the fingers 22 on the frameII of the diorama having just fallen down, and pushing same cause thewhole of the dioramas contained in the storage space to move backward.At the end of this motion, the frame II of the diorama just fallen downcomes in engagement at its upper part with the hook 28. This completesone step or cycle of operation of the apparatus. In order to allow thishook to pass easily over the upper edge of the back plate I2; the plateis preferably provided with a notch 28a. The diorama is furthermoremaintained in an upright position at its lower position by the slightprojection 39 of the felt 38.

In order to prevent the changes of dioramas being seen from outside, theopening 3 of the box I is advantageously closed bya curtain inthe courseof the operation. For this purpose, the fingers 33 are fixed to thechains at such a point that they meet with the hooks 3I shortly beforeor at the moment at which begins the folding of the exhibited diorama.The said fingers 33 come into engagement with the hooks 3! fixed to therod 30 of the curtain 29 at the moment that the chains are running overthe pinions I1. Upon downward movement, the fingers 33 lower the curtainand when they arrive at their lowest position, thehooks 3| engage thehooks 34 Owing to the change of direction of the chains running ov tsproc ets 8. the fin s 3 are loos ned equal to the height of thedioramas.

from the hooks 3|, which are still held by the hooks 34. During thecontinuation of their movement, the fingers 33 press on the tail member35 of the respective hook 34 at the moment when the new diorama 9a isfully unfolded. The hooks 34 are thus disengaged from the hooks 3!, andthe curtain rolls up under the action of its spring to exhibitthediorama 9a (the next one in order).

According to a modification represented. in Fig.

4, the exhibition chamber is provided with two pairs of verticalU-shaped slides 40, 4! the lower end of which is made flush with theupper part of the partition 5, and of a length approximately Thedistance'between the slides in each pair and between the two pairs issuch that the side edges of theframe II and of'the back plate l2 engagethe said slides when the diorama is going upfrom the storage space intothe exhibition chamber. The pair of slides .40 is connected to the backwall of the box by means of elastic devices, such as springs 43. Thepair of slides 4I is connected to the piair of slides 40 by similarsprings 44. Hooks 45 '-are also arranged. to prevent the pair of slides4I moving forward. The box I is also provided with suitable guidingmeans, not represented, allowing the said slides 40, 4| to run in aparallel direction to the partition 5.

The operation is as follows: When. the diorama 3a is engagedbythe'sideedges of both its frame I! and back plate I2 in the slides, the fingersof the chains 2| drive forward, in the same way as previously, the frameII and with same the slides 40. The diorama is opened and the slides 40reach the position Met in which they are held by the springs 26. r Thechains furthermore support a snug'actingupon' any system of levers, soas tol'oo's'en" the hooks 45 maintaining the slides 4| at any givenposition. The hooks 45 being loosened, the springs 44 drive the slides Mto -'their'position 4Ia, thus folding the diorama, which then falls downinto the store. The same or other fingers Operate somewhat later uponanother system of levers removing the springs -26 having retained theslides 40 into thefrontposition 400.. Therefore thewhole of the twoslides returnfto the starting position and are ready to receive anotherdiorama.

" Havingnow described this invention and in which manner same is to beperformed, what we claim is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having anexhibition chamber provided with an opening to view a diorama when inthe exhibition chamber, said casing having a storage chamber, aplurality of foldable dioramas located in folded condition in saidstorage chamber, means for bringing a folded diorama from the storagechamber into the exhibition chamber, means to unfold the diorama in theexhibition chamber to present it for view through the viewing' opening,and means to refold the diorama and return it to the storage chamber.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having anexhibition chamber provided with an opening to view a diorama when inthe exhibition chamber, said casing having a storage chamber, aplurality of foldable dioramas located in folded condition in saidstorage chamber, means for bringing a folded diorama from thestoragechambei' into the exhibition chamber, means to unfold the dioramain the exhibition chamber topresent it for View throughithe viewfrom thestorage space to and along the exhibiing" Opening, and means to refoldthe cream and return it to the storage chamber, a curtain for theviewing opening, means fo-r -moving'said curtain-to uncover said viewingopening-wine the diorama is in condition for jexhibitior'r, and

means to drawthe curtain over 'sa 'id opening at other times. I

- serially carrying the dioramas'in folded condition from the storagespace to the exhibition chamber and back to the storage space, means forunfolding the dioramas while in the exhibition chamber for viewingpurposes and thereafter refolding the same to beconveyed back to thestorage space, andmeans actuated by said conveyor for drawing thecurtain over the 'sightopening While a diorama is' beingtransferred from.ithe exhibition space to the storage space and another diorama is beingmade ready in the exhibition chamber.

4. In apparatus 'of the character described, a box having a partitiondividing it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber, .and havinga sight opening for the exhibition chamber, a curtain, meanscontinuously tending to maintain the curtain in position to uncover thesight opening,

a set of foldable dioramas stored in said storage space in foldedcondition, an endless conveyor for serially carrying the dioramas infolded condition from the storage space to the exhibition chamber andback to the storage space, means for unfolding the dioramas while in theexhibition chamber for viewing purposes and thereafter refolding thesame to be conveyed back to the storage space, and means actuated bysaid conveyor for drawing the curtain over the sight opening while adiorama is being transferred from the exhibition space to the storagespace and another diorama is being made ready in the exhibition chamber,said last named means in-- cluding hooks on the curtain and, members onsaid conveyor to engage said hooks, latches to engage said hooks intheir down position to hold the curtain, said latches having means forengagement by said members on further movement of said members to effecta release of said curtain latches.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having a horizontalpartition dividing it into a storage space .and an exhibition chamber, aset of foldable dioramas in said casing, means to hold dioramas infolded condition in said storage space, said dioramas each including afront frame, a back plate and at least one intermediate frame, and abellows connecting the front frame and back plate and sustaining theintermediate frames, hooks on said front frame, an endless chainconveyor having elements to engage said hooks for conveying foldeddioramas tion chamber, and means in the exhibition chamber to engage andrestrain the back plate of the diorama while the front frame is beingpulled along by said conveyor to open the diorama in the exhibitionchamber.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having a horizontalpartition dividing it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber,

aset'offfoldable'fioramas in said casing, means toholddioramas in foldedcondition in said storage space, said dioramas each including a frontframe, a back plate and at least oneintermediate frame, a bellowsconnecting thefront frame and back plate andsustainirigithe intermediateframes, hooks on said frontframe, and

endless chain 'conveyor having' elements to enbeing made ready,toexhibit andto uncover the window when a hibition, I

7. In apparatus of the character describedQa casing having a horizontalpartition dividing'it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber, aset of foldable dioramas in said casing, means to hold dioramas infolded condition in said storage space, said dioramas each including afront frame, a back plate and at least one intermediate frame, a bellowsconnecting the front frame and back plate and sustaining theinterdiorama is in condition for exmediate frames, hooks on said frontframe, an

endless chain conveyor having elements to engage said hooks forconveying folded dioramas from the storage space to and along theembition chamber,. means in the exhibition chamber to engage andrestrain the back plate of the diorama while the front frame is beingpulled along by said conveyor to open the diorama in the exhibitionchamber, said casing having a window to the exhibition chamber, acurtain for covering said window, and means governed by said conveyorfor actuating said curtain in timed relation to cover the window whiledioramas are being made ready to exhibit and to uncover the window whena diorama is in condition for exhibition, said last named meansincluding means continuously tending to withdraw the curtain from overthe window, cooperating means on the curtain and on the conveyor fordrawing the curtain over the window during a portion of the movement ofthe conveyor, and means to hold the curtain over the window for adefinite period and then upon further movement of the conveyor torelease the curtain.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having a horizontalpartition dividing it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber, aset of foldable dioramas in said casing, means to hold dioramas infolded condition in said storage space, said dioramas each including afront frame, a back plate and at least one intermediate frame, a bellowsconnecting the front frame and back plate and sustaining theintermediate frames, hooks on said front frame, an endless chainconveyor having elements to engage said hooks for conveying foldeddioramas from the storage space to and along the exhibition chamber, andmeans in the exhibition chaminthe casing to ,lie in said notches andhaving rods to engage said back plate, saidspring arms beingreleasablefrom said back plate upon engagement of thearms-by the front frame of'asucceeding diorama.

9. Inapparatus of the character described, a casing having a horizontalpartition dividing it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber, aset of fo-ldable dioramas in said casing, means to'hold dioramas infolded condition in said storage space, said dioramas each including afront frame, a back plate and at least one intermediate frame, a bellowsconnecting the front frame and back plate and sustaining theintermediate frames, hooks on said front frame, an endless chainconveyor having elements to engage s'aidhooks for conveying foldeddioramas from the storage space to and along the exhibition chamber,means in exhibition chamber to engage and restrain the back plate of thediorama while the front frame is being pulled along by said conveyor toopen thediorama in the exhibition chamber, and means'to hold the frontframe-of the diorama in the exhibition chamber when in its open orunfolded position. 1

10. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having ahorizontal partition dividing it into a. storage space and anexhibitionchamber, a set of foldable dioramas in said casing, means tohold dioramas each including a front frame, a back plate and at leastone intermediate frame, a bellows connecting the front frame and backplate and sustaining the intermediate frames,

hooks on said front frame, an endless chain'conveyor having elements toengage said hooks for conveying folded dioramas from the storage spaceto and along the exhibition chamber, means in exhibition chamber toengage and restrain the back plate of the diorama while the front frameis being pulled along .by said conveyor to open the diorama in theexhibition chamber, and means to hold the front frame of the diorama inthe exhibition chamber when in its open or unfolded position, said lastnamed means comprising yieldable blades. PHILIPPE ALEXIS JEAN CARRE.

JACQUES LOUIS ALEXIS MAURICE CARRIE.

